Newly hatched bamboo shark

gauche · Oct 21, 2013

My bamboo shark hatched this past Thursday and I gave him a day before trying to feed him with no luck. I've tried everyday since then and still no luck. I've tried shrimp, silversides, clams, squid, and I've chopped it all up in tiny pieces to fit in his mouth, and I've even soaked it all in garlic. Right now I have him in a container inside my tank so I can leave food in there with him without my other fish taking it., and I have holes throughout the entire thing to allow water flow through it I just put him in the container tonight to try and get him to eat, the past few nights he's been exploring my tank, and returning to a cave each morning and waiting for the lights to go out again. Can anyone think of anything else I should try, or is he just a lost cause.

stunreefer · Oct 21, 2013

Never a lost cause. Have you tried feeding him any of the foods not soaked in garlic? Garlic is pretty strong and could be masking the foods scent. You should grab some live blackworms, tubifex worms, etc. I used to breed these along with three other species of catsharks and the babies can be difficult to ween. Another great option is live ghost shrimp. Anything that will actually move on their own in front of them is a great option. Very rarely did I have a specimen that would readily take frozen foods. If he/she still won't accept anything you should force feed; generally I used silversides or squid. Gently grab the shark, but with a firm grip, and literally shove the fish head first down the throat. This process sounds pretty rough although it does work, and it's essential to get nutrients into the fish. This will help jump start their metabolism and eventually he/she will accept prepared foods readily.

Eienna · Oct 21, 2013

Yeah, definitely live food to start with.

gauche · Oct 21, 2013

I will definitely be getting the worms and ghost shrimp as well, thanks for the advice and wish me luck.

miyags · Oct 21, 2013

When I had one I feed it squid, I cut it in strps about 1/8 to 1/4in. wide x 2 to 3 in. long and put it on a shishkabob stick and dangled it in front of it. Mine ate fairly quick, after hatching. Maybe a day or two. Even try one leg of the tentical part with the skin on for scent.

KingOfPain86 · Oct 21, 2013

I hatched one about a month ago. He doesn't like silversides bit nips at pieces of shrimp I put on a feeding stick. He wasn't eating nearly enough and I thought he would starve. I started feeding live ghost shrimp and he loves them. Only problem is they are not very aggressive so if you have other predators in the tank he might not be able to feed. The container idea is awesome and I wish I had thought of it. I would suggest leaving home in the container with the ghost shrimp. Just make sure the holes in the container are not big enough for the shrimp to escape through.

gauche · Oct 24, 2013

I just wanted to give an update.....my little guy is still alive and doing well, I put a few ghost shrimp in the container that he's in, and after a few minutes he was on the hunt. After he caught his first one he started going around puffing little jets of water in the sand looking for more. I plan to keep him in the container until he starts to take to frozen foods.